Books › The favourite game
The favourite game
First published 1963 · 374 pages
A contemplative coming-of-age journey following a young writer's search for authenticity amidst early fame and family legacy.
What it feels like
Reading this novel feels like stepping into the restless, searching mind of a young artist. It unfolds at a meandering, contemplative pace, tracing the delicate transition from youth to early manhood. The atmosphere is steeped in a sense of nostalgia and introspection, anchored by the weight of family heritage and the sudden, disorienting arrival of early literary success. Rather than rushing through plot points, the narrative lingers on the internal friction between intellectual achievement and the grounding, almost penitent reality of physical labor. The prose is deeply literary and observant, capturing the quiet struggles of a young man trying to forge his own identity. It is a perfect match for readers who savor character-driven, coming-of-age stories about the messy, earnest pursuit of authenticity.
- Mood
- contemplative
- nostalgic
- restless
- Tone
- introspective
- reflective
- earnest
- searching
- Pace
- meandering
- Themes
- coming of age · artistic awakening · family legacy · seeking authenticity · the burden of success
- The writing
- Literary and deeply observant, focusing on the internal friction and evolving worldview of a young writer.
- The arc
- Moves from the restless expectations of youth and early fame to a grounded, earnest search for personal authenticity.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate quiet, character-driven stories about young artists grappling with their heritage and identity.
About the book
Describes the youth and early manhood of Lawrence Beavman, only son of an old Jewish family in Montreal, who achieves literary fame as a college student and does penance in the form of manual labor.
Description from Open Library.
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